Prop Adam Black led the Dragons' scoring with a brace of tries

Dragons 48 (15)
Tries: Chapman, Black 2, Fitisemanu, Walker, Wyatt, Fussell.
Cons: A Thomas 5.
DG: A Thomas

Borders 0 (0)

Newport-Gwent Dragons brushed past bottom side Border Reivers at Rodney Parade to record a Magners League bonus-point victory on Friday night.

Prop Adam Black claimed a brace of tries, scoring his first after wing Gareth Chapman's early opener.

Dragons took full advantage when Borders had Calum MacRae sin-binned, with Black, Nic Fitisemanu and Alex Walker crossing in quick succession.

Full-back Gareth Wyatt and replacement Richard Fussell completed the rout.

It took the Dragons just four minutes to open their account, as a flowing three-quarter move gave Chapman space to dive over in the corner.

Aled Thomas missed the tricky conversion but slotted a 40-yard drop-goal soon after in consolation.

Borders defended gamely but had no answer when the Welsh won a five-metre line-out and prop Black was shunted over for a converted try.

The Scottish visitors then held out until half-time, but the early sin-binning of full-back MacRae for a high tackle on flanker Jamie Ringer soon after the restart saw their resistance crumble.

Black again rumbled over for a five-pointer from Michael Owen's pass, then number eight Fitisemanu powered through three Borders defenders for the Dragons' fourth try and a bonus point.

Thomas converted the Samoan back-rower's score and also improved a fine dart from Walker that took the scrum-half over the line.

Further tries from full-back Wyatt, cutting a great line in support, and an injury-time effort from replacement Fussell rubber-stamped the Dragons' dominance.

Dragons: Gareth Wyatt; Gareth Chapman, Paul Emerick, Ashley Smith, Aled Brew; Aled Thomas, Alex Walker; Adam Black, Ben Daly, Jamie Corsi, Luke Charteris, Peter Sidoli, Michael Owen (capt), Jamie Ringer, Nic Fitisemanu.
Replacements: Richard Wilkes for Daly (62), Gethin Robinson, Andrew Hall for Fitisemanu (65), James Harris for Ringer (50), Richard Fussell for Chapman (62), Phil Dolman for Smith (67), Gareth Baber for Walker (70).

Border Reivers: Calum MacRae; Simon Danielli, Nick De Luca, Ben MacDougall, Garry Law; Gregor Townsend, Chris Cusiter (capt); Ryan Grant, Ross Ford, Bruce Douglas, John Dalziel, Opeta Palepoi, Scott Newlands, Andy Miller, Scott Forrest.
Replacements: Steve Scott for Ford (58), Ed Kalman for Douglas (67), Richie Vernon for Palepoi (77), Roddy Grant for Newlands (40), Rob Chrystie for Cusiter (58), Steve Jones for MacDougall (75), Dougie Flockhart for Danielli (79).

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland).

Att: 4,986